Biofuel groups praise DC circuit court ruling in favor of RFS

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2012 – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected a petition today by the Chicken Council challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rulemaking on the RFS2.

The Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy, along with other biofuel advocates, intervened in the case.

Following the Court's dismissal of the meat industry petition, Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis and RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen issued a statement commending the ruling, calling it“a victory for American ethanol producers and renewable fuel advocates.”

“With the Court denying this latest challenge, they have vindicated the rulemaking process of the RFS2,” according to their statement. The RFS is arguably the nation's most effective energy policy.”

“It has spurred the development of a domestic biofuels industry that is creating hundreds of thousands of jobs that cannot be outsourced,” according to the joint statement. “In addition, it is helping to decrease the nation's reliance on imported oil and thus reducing prices at the pump.”

“As the Court ruling demonstrates, the charges that anti-biofuel lobbies are leveling against ethanol simply do not hold up under scrutiny,” they stated.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Dr. Jayson Lusk, Distinguished Professor and Head of the Agriculture Economics Department at Purdue University. With heightened debate on food and farm policy surrounding the development of a new farm bill, Dr. Lusk offers challenging insight about the relationship between political persuasion and food, work requirements for SNAP recipients and evolving preferences in meat consumption.

The House Agriculture Committee was set to mark up a new farm bill next week, but Democratic objections over planned nutrition changes have caused a delay. Agri-Pulse's Phil Brasher and Spencer Chase have more on that and a fix to the GOP tax bill in this week's video.

The world of agriculture extends beyond what’s growing in your field or living in your barn, and here at Agri-Pulse, we understand that. We make it our duty to inform you of the most up-to-date agricultural and rural policy decisions being made in Washington D.C. and examine how they will affect you – the farmer, the lobbyist, the government employee, the educator, the consultant and the concerned citizen.